Latin America: A Concise Interpretive History

by Burns, Bradford E.; Charlip, Julie A.

• ISBN13: 9780131930438
• ISBN10: 0131930435
• Edition: 8th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-01-01
• Publisher: Prentice Hall

Summary

For courses in Modern Latin America. Organized thematically, this text offers a clear narrative that weaves together the story of an entire region, with coverage of broad themes and regional diffences. Despite the great diversity within the Latin America, there is a common theme that characterizes the sweep of history in the region. The original author of the text, E. Bradford Burns, phrased the problem as the paradox that poor people inhabit rich lands. The reason for the paradox is that a tiny group of elites confuses the nation's well-being with their own. When this text was first published in 1972, there were very few texts on Latin America, and the ones that existed largely read like catalogs of historical events. There are others now, but this textbook is still a leader in the market because of its clear thematic organization, a central narrative that tells a single story, albeit with many variations. Co-author Julie A. Charlip is very committed to continuing his legacy. Despite changes in research, interpretations, theories, etc., his basic premise is still the most accurate and succinct, providing the best framework for approaching the region.

Table of Contents

List of Maps	xiii
Preface	xv
Acknowledgments	xvi
1 LAND AND PEOPLE	1	(30)
The Land	2	(1)
Latin America's Environmental Woes	3	(5)
Environmental Issues by Country	8	(2)
The Indigenous	10	(9)
The European	19	(3)
The African	22	(6)
Mestizaje and the Creation of a New People	28	(3)
2 FROM CONQUEST TO EMPIRE	31	(32)
European Exploration	31	(2)
Patterns of Conquest	33	(3)
Colonial Economy	36	(8)
The Conquered Peoples	44	(2)
Colonial Administration	46	(6)
The Catholic Church	52	(6)
The Virgin de Guadalupe	58	(1)
Colonial Society	59	(4)
3 INDEPENDENCE	63	(24)
A New Sense of Self	64	(1)
The Bourbon Reforms	65	(3)
The Temptations of Trade	68	(4)
Early Warning Signs	72	(1)
International Examples	73	(2)
Impetus from the Outside	75	(2)
Elitist Revolts	77	(5)
Popular Revolution in Mexico	82	(2)
The Brazilian Exception	84	(3)
4 NEW NATIONS	87	(34)
Monarchy or Republic?	87	(4)
Shaping the New Republics	91	(5)
Threats to the Nations	96	(7)
Economic Instability	103	(6)
Control by Caudillos	109	(10)
Change and Continuity	119	(2)
5 THE EMERGENCE OF THE MODERN STATE	121	(35)
Political Stability	122	(4)
Positivism and Progress	126	(7)
Economic Prosperity	133	(6)
Modest Industrialization	139	(2)
Progress on the Periphery	141	(2)
The Growth of Cities	143	(4)
Superficial Modernization	147	(2)
The Popular Challenge	149	(7)
6 NEW ACTORS ON AN OLD STAGE	156	(104)
The Presence of the United States	156	(10)
The New Middle Class	166	(4)
The Working Class	170	(3)
The Middle Class in Politics	173	(6)
7 THE MEXICAN EXPLOSION	179	(28)
Cracks in the Regime	180	(2)
Effective Suffrage and No Reelection	182	(1)
Patrias Chicas	183	(1)
The Maderista Revolt	184	(3)
Madero in Power	187	(3)
¡Viva Zapata!	190	(2)
Huerta and the Counter-Revolution	192	(4)
A Radical Constitution	196	(2)
The Radicals Lose	198	(1)
From Destruction to Construction	199	(4)
The Apex of the Revolution	203	(2)
A Revolutionary Balance Sheet	205	(2)
8 FROM WORLD WARS TO COLD WAR	207	(23)
Economic Crises	208	(4)
Dictators and Populists	212	(7)
Latin America Turns Inward	219	(4)
A Flirtation With Democracy	223	(7)
9 THE REVOLUTIONARY OPTION	230	(30)
Cuba	233	(9)
Cuba's Impact	242	(10)
Chile 250 Nicaragua	252	(8)
10 DEBT AND DICTATORSHIP	260	(28)
Changing Economic Patterns	260	(4)
Military Models for Change	264	(6)
War in Central America	270	(8)
The Church Under Attack	278	(2)
The New Social Movements	280	(3)
Do Elections Make Democracies?	283	(5)
11 FORWARD INTO THE PAST	288	(22)
Neoliberalism and Its Discontents	288	(3)
NAFTA and the Zapatistas	291	(5)
Latin America Swings Left	296	(3)
Colombia's War Without End	299	(3)
Citizens and Consumers	302	(8)
A CHRONOLOGY OF SIGNIFICANT DATES IN LATIN AMERICAN HISTORY	310	(6)
A GLOSSARY OF SPANISH AND PORTUGUESE TERMS	316	(5)
A GLOSSARY OF CONCEPTS AND TERMS	321	(5)
THE NOVEL AS HISTORY: A READING GUIDE	326